"If a patient develops an infection, it will prolong their stay in the hospital," Ehlert told Post-Crescent Media. "Having the number down is a good thing."

Among the things the report looked at was the risk of getting infected by dirty or contaminated intravenous needles. Wisconsin hospitals averaged less than one, while the national average was one.

Ehlert said emphasis on hand-washing has helped reduce infection rates, along with close monitoring of patients' need for medications and fluids.

"The biggest thing that's been happening is hand washing," she said. "A (medical) worker washing their hands before and after they touch a patient."

Ehlert said they are also trying to shorten a patient's time in hospital, noting that every day a person stays in a hospital "is another day they're at risk for infection."

Miki Gould, infection prevention coordinator for ThedaCare, which operates medical centers in Appleton and Nennah, noted that along with sanitizing measures, watching out for patients is also the key to success.

"A chance of infection is greater if say a patient has to get up out of bed to use the restroom," she said. "From an infection control point, getting people better faster aids in the overall healing process."

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